Organ master Jimmy McGriff may have studied formally at Juilliard and at Philadelphia's Combe College of Music, but there's nothing fancy about his music. It's basic to the bone, always swinging and steeped in blues and gospel. McGriff's brand of jazz is about feeling. "That's the most important thing," he says.
In 1962, Sue Records released the single "All ABout My Girl", but it was the B-side that my dad played the most and with "MG Blues", the organist staked out a musical turf all his own, somewhere between the jazz of Jimmy Smith and the r&b of Booker T. & the MGs.
Al Casey was a member of L.A.'s "Wrecking Crew," a group of studio session musicians who played on countless hit records in the 1960s.
This record from 1962, the year of my birth, was my introduction to the Al Casey sound.
“Al Casey, at 21, is regarded in the music trade as one of the best guitar players in the country.”
-- The Arizona Republic, June 1, 1958.
The Packers were an American soul group formed by tenor saxophonist Charles "Packy" Axton, who was the son of Stax Records part-owner Estelle Axton. Axton was a former member of the Mar-Keys; Leon Haywood (on organ) was among those who played on the group's records. Their first album, Hole in the Wall, reached #7 on the Billboard Black Albums chart on the strength of the titular single, which reached #5 on the Black Singles chart and #43 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Hole In The Wall was written by Stax all-stars, Cropper, Jackson, Jones & Nathan and released in 1966.
Not actually one of Dad's 45s, but one that made an impression on me nonetheless. The year was 1970 or 71 and I was across the street at my friend Tim Brown's house, listening to 45s in his room with he and his brother Mike. Tim put this one on and I immediately dug it. Years later, I searched the song out and found this promo 45 from 1968.
Herbie Mann was one of the greatest jazz flautists the world has ever known. His "Memphis Underground", "Push Push" and of course, "Hijack", which was a Billboard Number-one dance hit of 1975 are timeless groove records. This one is for you Tim!
Dizzy Gillespie - Joogie Boogie
Recorded in NYC, July 8, 1957 and released on Verve in 1958.
This is west coast rockin' blues! Al Simmons tears it with Slim Green & The Cats From Fresno in this 1957 release on DIG records.
Young and old alike will indeed boogie with a smile on their face when listening to this.
This is another one that I played the heck out of as a kid. It's a rockin' little instrumental number from 1960 with some great sax licks in it. I could not find much information about The Fugitives, but evidently this track was first released on the SIMS Records label prior to the Arvee issue.
The Arvee Label was formed in 1959 as a subsidiary of the High Fidelity Recording Company. The "Arvee" name was derived from Richard Vaughn, the company president's initials, "R.V." The output of the label was popular music and rhythm and blues.
